ZENN Motor Company Inc. (TSXV: ZNN; “ZENN” or the “Company”), announced the findings of four independent reports on the testing of the capacitor technology developed by its 71.3% owned subsidiary, EEStor Inc. (EEStor”)
The new reports are saying that EEStor supercapacitors have a higher voltage capability
EEStor has demonstrated stable capacitors to 1500 Vdc, (with hi-pot testing at significantly greater voltages) which is much higher than the standard limitation on aluminum electrolytic capacitors, which is about 450 Vdc, and 125 Vdc for tantalum capacitors. This is important because the EEStor technology can extend the capacitance value and the voltage rating well above 1500 Vdc (as tested by Intertek). This is an extremely disruptive development in the capacitor supply chain.
The current status of EEStor’s technology indicates that the initial commercial targets, in order of priority, should be:
* High Voltage Aluminum Electrolytic and Tantalum capacitors (combined total worldwide 2014 market of USD $6 billion)
* The power film capacitor segment (combined total worldwide 2014 market of USD $1.3 billion)
* The direct sale of the composition modified barium titanate powders manufactured at EEStor to capacitor manufacturer customers worldwide (total 2014 worldwide market of USD $83 million)
From the reports -The unique combination of high capacitance and high voltage characteristics of the EEStor capacitor technology in one electrostatic capacitor package are unique and should be considered particularly disruptive to the $6 billion electrolytic segment of the worldwide capacitor industry. The technology can operate in high voltage environments and at high capacitance. This is typically an area reserved for electrochemical capacitors, especially aluminum electrolytic and a small part of the tantalum electrolytic market segment. The benefit of the EEStor technology is its cost structure. Since the ceramic dielectric is based upon barium and titanium feedstocks, which should be about $8.00 a pound when processed, the cost structure would be much better than that of aluminum anode etched foil and etched cathode foil which average about $20.00 USD per pound, and that of tantalum metal powder which averages about $200.00 USD per pound. Since capacitor pricing is based upon the operating voltage and the capacitance value, all things being equal , the profitability of the EEStor capacitors should be much higher than the operating margins of aluminum and tantalum capacitors, which average about 15%.
Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.
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